California Travel Suggestions
My friend and I are taking a 15 day road trip throughout California over the holidays in December. We will be starting in San Jose and working our way up to San Francisco, Napa, Yosemite, then over to Las Vegas to visit friends, down to San Diego and back up to San Jose, tentatively. We are not opposed to skipping any of these places or stopping elsewhere along the way. We love cool eclectic towns, we are a moderate budget (we are college students). Please if anyone has any suggestions on restaurants we shouldn't miss or even just awesome places you think we should see. We are totally open to anything!
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10 Comments:
Calistoga (top of Napa), beautiful little town, charming place to stay.
For places to stay, check out VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owners)
Found some great little mountain cabins, homes and other accomodations to stay in along the way.
CJ McD at 3:55PM on 11/02/09
You might also like Santa Cruz and the Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel area. You can find some really inexpensive motels inland in Monterey (www.seemonterey.com). And the drive along the coast is unbelievably beautiful.
For dinner, try Passionfish in Pacific Grove -- everything is fresh, and the markup on wine is only about 5%.
suthungirl at 4:09PM on 11/02/09
Oh yes- definitely those areas too.
Great suggestions suthungirl.
CJ McD at 4:16PM on 11/02/09
If San Jose is a "home base" of some sort, you may want to break your trip into a few separate journeys - separate trips to SF/Napa, Yosemite, Vegas/Socal wouldn't add a huge amount to your overall mileage, but might be a little easier if there's a free place to stay in San Jose.
Be aware of weather - if you do go from Yosemite to Vegas, there's the possibility that the "high road" could close if they get snow - the last time I planned a similar trip in December, it ended up closing.
Food-wise, it's a little overwhelming to address the whole state in one go, but here are a few general thoughts...
- Don't miss the street food movement, which is prominent in SF & LA.
- Don't miss farmers markets, again primarily SF & LA
- Napa is two places, the city and the valley. The town has a good market (Oxbow), and an amazing veg restaurant (Ubuntu). The valley is where the bucolic vineyard views are. There's great food, but it's not a particularly budget-friendly area.
-
cyberroo at 4:18PM on 11/02/09
While you're in San Diego, stop by Escondido (it's just north on San Diego on the 15. Try some chicken soup at Lourdes (their fish taco is also excellent), and then go across the street to Peterson's for a doughnut. If your stop is on a Friday or Saturday, Mi Rancho Market, that shares a parking lot with Peterson's has great (real) al pastor tacos for $1.
beth1 at 5:00PM on 11/02/09
In SF, climbing to the top of Mt. Tam should not be missed--a great way to see the city. Drinks at Presidio Social Club. A Dinner splurge at NOPA (oh, I dream of NOPA). I also love the park ranger tour at the Marin Headlands, the one that includes the scary jaunt over to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Dim sum but I have not found a favorite place..yet.
Great pizza at the Cheeseboard in Berkeley--fun to walk on campus, too. IF you love love love grocery stores like I do, a field trip to the Berkeley Bowl (either one) is an adventure. Have so much fun!!
PoorOldMama at 5:15PM on 11/02/09
suthingirl has it right. Go to Monterey and Big Sur. Drive the scenic 1. It will blow.you.away. And Passionfish is a great suggestion.
alosha7777 at 6:16PM on 11/02/09
If you're in the bay area, hit up Berkeley, yeah cheeseboard is great, actually anything in the gourmet ghetto is pretty yums.
Head to Sacramento, its the state capitol, and has some fun places to chill, good food...
hit up the pho in san jose, and oh my gosh yum
disneydreamscometrue at 6:45PM on 11/04/09
Where are you from? For sure take the 101 down Cali then get on the Pacific Coast Highway for some more awesome scenery.....you will run into great places to eat along the way. Also Solvang (about 30 miles north of Santa Barbara) is a great little danish town with delicious food and it is so gorgeous during the holidays- a must see
joylissa at 2:25PM on 11/09/09
Being from Santa Cruz I must agree.... Driving Hwy 1 from SC to BigSur is a MUST DO. Be prepared to stop for photo ops frequently, don't be in a hurry. If in SC on a Wednesday, go to the Farmer's Mkt downtown. It's a great mix of awesome farmers and hippy/only-in-sc culture.
Be cautious on Hwy 17 (only route from san jose to santa cruz). And by all means, stay in the slow lane if you are nervous. Us locals tend to drive that road like maniacs. lol.
luckygurl at 1:51PM on 11/21/09